Here's that spinning backfist that Jussier Formiga used to floor Ben Nguyen at UFC 221

You know how there are plenty of examples in MMA, from Chael Sonnen to Paige VanZant, when a spinning backfist turns out to be a really bad idea in a professional cagefight?

Well, sometimes it works out just about perfectly, as Jussier Formiga reminded us in the third round of his prelim bout with Ben Nguyen at UFC 221 in Perth, Australia.

Formiga (21-5 MMA, 8-4 UFC) had dominated the early part of this fight with his grappling superiority, but what eluded him was the finish. Try as he might, he just couldn’t seem to put the resilient Nguyen (18-7 MMA, 4-2 UFC) away.

The solution to that problem? Counter a headkick with a spinning backfist, then let your flying forearm do the rest.

FORMIGA!!@JussierFormiga drops Nguyen w/ a spinning back fist, then locks in the RNC and puts him to sleep!

Formiga probably would have finished Nguyen off with strikes after that, but when you’re a submission specialist and you’re posted up on a woozy opponent’s back, the rear-naked choke instinct is pretty hard to ignore.

Formiga latched onto the choke as Nguyen had both hands on the mat, and he didn’t let go until Nguyen was fast asleep and the fight was over.

That gives Formiga the first finish of the day. Don’t be too surprised if it also gives him a bonus when it’s all said and done.